Spoked wheel on a Terraplane

[Riggs]

I'm attaching my Terraplane to my 02' Road King and I'm really wanting to have matching wheels. My bike has spoked wheels and I'm having a hard time finding a spoked wheel to fit my sidecar. Has anyone here ever done what I'm trying to do or have any suggestions? I definitely want the braking system to stay intact too.
Thank you

 

[trikebldr]

Damn, I thought I replied to you on this! The stock Terraplane wheel does have a very narrow hub section, so it's axle is relatively short compared to other wheels. You probably won't find a wheel to fit the Terraplane's axle, off the shelf. I suggest looking around first for a hub for a spoked wheel that will fit your axle and bearings, then have it laced to an appropriate rim.
An alternate way to do this would be to get the wheel you want, then have a new axle machined to match the hub and bearings, then have that axle welded into the Terraplane's leading link. Any new wheel with a wider hub is almost sure to cause the tire to fit a bit farther outside the edge of the fender.
Now, about that brake! Probably going to have to have a new caliper mount made to position it correctly over the rotor on the new wheel, no matter which way you go.
I will go out on a limb here, Randy, and say that you should first try to find some local custom bike talent around you who can do this kind of mix/matching work. Most custom bike shops do this every day! But, if you can't get it done locally, send me your new wheel-of-choice and your leading link and I will send it all back ready to mount on your car. I have machining and welding capabilities and can make the axle. I can also have the caliper bracket ready for you to just put it all back together. I can fit it all together on my Terraplane to make sure it all works. Of course, extensive testing will need to be done, like months and months! Just kidding!
What do you plan to do with your original wheel? Wanna sell it?

 

[Larry Fine]

Just kidding!

About which part?

 

[Riggs]

Damn, I thought I replied to you on this! The stock Terraplane wheel does have a very narrow hub section, so it's axle is relatively short compared to other wheels. You probably won't find a wheel to fit the Terraplane's axle, off the shelf. I suggest looking around first for a hub for a spoked wheel that will fit your axle and bearings, then have it laced to an appropriate rim.
An alternate way to do this would be to get the wheel you want, then have a new axle machined to match the hub and bearings, then have that axle welded into the Terraplane's leading link. Any new wheel with a wider hub is almost sure to cause the tire to fit a bit farther outside the edge of the fender.
Now, about that brake! Probably going to have to have a new caliper mount made to position it correctly over the rotor on the new wheel, no matter which way you go.
I will go out on a limb here, Randy, and say that you should first try to find some local custom bike talent around you who can do this kind of mix/matching work. Most custom bike shops do this every day! But, if you can't get it done locally, send me your new wheel-of-choice and your leading link and I will send it all back ready to mount on your car. I have machining and welding capabilities and can make the axle. I can also have the caliper bracket ready for you to just put it all back together. I can fit it all together on my Terraplane to make sure it all works. Of course, extensive testing will need to be done, like months and months! Just kidding!
What do you plan to do with your original wheel? Wanna sell it?

 

[Riggs]

Thank you for all the detailed info. I can just bet that you're a skilled craftsman! I think it'd be really neat to be able to make just about anything I wanted. I'm an electrician by trade but I enjoy tinkering in my garage. I think I'm going to run my original wheel for a while just so I can get it out on the road. This winter I plan on doing the whole spoked wheel part of it. I just got the mounting hardware in from DMC. My next step is to get it all put together and then take it to the painter. I need to get the seat reupholstered, the brake caliper and master cylinder replaced and the bumper is being rechromed as we speak. It's turned into quite the project but lots of fun. I plan on taking pics and posting them.

 

[trikebldr]

I'm a retired electrician by trade, too! It put food on the table, but my passion was racing, welding, metal fab and hot rods. I spent about 8 years in machine shop before getting into electrical.
I'm curious, what "bumper" are you talking about? I'm getting ready to take my mounts apart to have some of the pieces chromed and others blasted and painted black. Then I will remount my new brake parts, too! Sounds like we are on parallel paths with our rigs! I've been riding mine a lot lately. I also stripped off all the original body accent decals today getting ready to color match the car to my bike. Also building an aluminum 7.5 gallon gas tank to fit between the bike and car.
Yeah, I want to see some pics of yours! How do you like the quality of all the DMC hardware? Pretty nice, huh? Jay only makes good stuff!

 

[trikebldr]

BTW, do whatever you have to assure yourself that the painters can't take your rig out for a joy ride! They tend to think a sidecar rig couldn't be hard to drive, so they "just go for a quickie" and you lose a rig! Disable the bike somehow so they have to push it around their shop! Let the owner know this is what you did, too, as part of the deal. I've known of three rigs completely destroyed by painters thinking they can just try it for a short ride! One of the painters also perished in the crash! I've also had two of my friends, who were both very experienced solo riders, crash my rigs and cost me about $5,000!!! Fortunately, both of those rigs were more current, at the time, so replacement parts and work was not hard to find. Just remember that your Terraplane is not easily replaceable.
I just hope you develop a thick skin about letting others "try" your rig!

 

[Larry Fine]

I'm an electrician by trade

Same here. Owner/operator.

 

[Riggs]

BTW, do whatever you have to assure yourself that the painters can't take your rig out for a joy ride! They tend to think a sidecar rig couldn't be hard to drive, so they "just go for a quickie" and you lose a rig! Disable the bike somehow so they have to push it around their shop! Let the owner know this is what you did, too, as part of the deal. I've known of three rigs completely destroyed by painters thinking they can just try it for a short ride! One of the painters also perished in the crash! I've also had two of my friends, who were both very experienced solo riders, crash my rigs and cost me about $5,000!!! Fortunately, both of those rigs were more current, at the time, so replacement parts and work was not hard to find. Just remember that your Terraplane is not easily replaceable.
I just hope you develop a thick skin about letting others "try" your rig!

Sorry for the delay in responding. Been super busy re roofing my house, garage and shed. My Terraplane has a chromed bumper lights mounted across the top. It's being re chromed.
I love the mounts from DMC. I'm glad that I spent the extra money on them. They came powder coated black, which matches my bike perfectly. My painter only has the sidecar. He has totally disassembled it to paint the frame and body. It looks amazing!
By the way, I'm trying to find a good replacement shock. The shock is a Monroe with a 1C18 part number. We have a Honda shop here in town. I'll probably take it there to see if they can help me out. Here are some pics of the progress. He has to sand the frame down to get it smooth. He used a rust inhibitor paint on it so right now, it looks a little rough.

 

[trikebldr]

WOW! I love it! How often does one get to see a Terraplane torn completely apart? So cool! Thanks for sharing that. If you get a chance could you please get some numbers/names/brands of the crimp joint cover that hides the joint between the top and bottom halves? I think that would be a great benefit to anybody else thinking of re-building theirs (like ME!!! [grin!]). Where's the lower 2" perimeter frame section?
Sweet! Just sweet!
BTW, I used Windbuchse's lead on air-shock choice and it works quite well. My Kawasaki Voyager had front and rear air suspension, but the fronts were converted to progressive springs and the air was removed, so the on-board compressor and controls now feed the hack's air shock instead of the front forks on the bike. The rear shocks on the bike are still functional, though. I also replaced the stupid factory gauge with one that gives actual air pressure in PSI instead of a relative max/min line gauge.
I sure hope you're planning to show us LOTS of detailed pics of the new mounts, the new sidecar, and the whole rig all put back together.

 

[Mike324]

Very interesting to see the progress you are making. Looking forward to seeing the mounts. Mike

 

[Riggs]

WOW! I love it! How often does one get to see a Terraplane torn completely apart? So cool! Thanks for sharing that. If you get a chance could you please get some numbers/names/brands of the crimp joint cover that hides the joint between the top and bottom halves? I think that would be a great benefit to anybody else thinking of re-building theirs (like ME!!! [grin!]). Where's the lower 2" perimeter frame section?
Sweet! Just sweet!
BTW, I used Windbuchse's lead on air-shock choice and it works quite well. My Kawasaki Voyager had front and rear air suspension, but the fronts were converted to progressive springs and the air was removed, so the on-board compressor and controls now feed the hack's air shock instead of the front forks on the bike. The rear shocks on the bike are still functional, though. I also replaced the stupid factory gauge with one that gives actual air pressure in PSI instead of a relative max/min line gauge.
I sure hope you're planning to show us LOTS of detailed pics of the new mounts, the new sidecar, and the whole rig all put back together.

Yes, I will post lots of pics and detail. I just talked to my painter tonight. He got sidetracked for a few weeks with a new baby and a sick friend. He'll be back on it tomorrow. As far as a replacement shock, I'm think I'm going to use an air shock so that I can make adjustments. I cannot wait to get it back and mount it to my Harley! The DMC mounts are in a box just waiting to be installed. I'm also trying to get my garage insulated so I can keep it warm this winter. Also been building my grandson's a playground in my back yard, all this while working 7 days a week and some 12hr days. This guy is wore out!! Only live once though. "Have No Regrets" is my motto!!